Bluebird monitoring, should I have looked in the box?

This is our first year in SC; we have such a very different type of yard here than what we had in CT, so much open space! So when we first saw bluebirds in the area last fall, we decided to put up a nesting box, our first ever, in our yard in March. We had lots of activity, and we figured they'd built a nest, but then the activity died down. We'd see a bird sit on top of the box, and sometimes go in, but nothing much seemed to be happening, no one on guard or upset when we would walk by the box. Well, today I determined to be brave and open the box, to clear out any old materials in there in hopes of attracting a more successful family. We gingerly opened it and saw the little mom sitting in there on the nest!!!! We closed it up quickly and tiptoed away. Now I wonder, did we do any harm, surprising her like that? She didn't seem upset at all, but I'm not sure what an upset momma would look like, really. She didn't fly out at us anyway. But there was no Papa Blue trying to defend her and the nest, which bothered me. Should I have opened the box, and is this all normal?

No harm done!!! Bluebirds are very forgiving. After the fledglings leave do clean out the old nest. Bluebirds usually raise two to three clutches per year and you may see the first offspring helping in rearing the next clutch. Congrats on your new Bluebird family.

Here's a great site with loads of information on Bluebirds.

http://sialis.org/

Congratulations!!!

If your ever able to get a picture be sure to post it here and please keep us updated. Thanks!